Lessons Learned from

**MrsClaus** · 12-25-2009, 06:34 PM

Christmas 2009

#1 Always keep a list of what you've bought for Christmas especially if you shop at garage sales.....I ended up with a couple of duplicates which leads to

#2 Always keep a list of where you hide things.....I tore the house apart last night looking for the rest of youngest dd's big present. I ended up finding it out in the shed where the first part was hidden at 1:15 this morning.

#3 Buying stuff on clearance after last Christmas for the in-laws made things a whole lot less stressful

#4 Cinnamon rolls for breakfast are ok. Adding pecan pie and a soda is sugar overload. And forget about cookies and candy at the in-laws. I feel lousy.

#5 The kids don't need a huge amount of presents. I put some back for Easter and a birthday and there was still plenty of fun to be had.

#6 Wrapping presents should be done before Christmas Eve.

But most of all, if you ask for snow you just might get it. Though I could have done without the sleet/freezing rain that appeared for a while today.

Hope everyone had a safe and Merry Christmas.

**missyali** · 12-25-2009, 07:04 PM

1. Keep a list ~ it will force me to limit myself.
2. Plan festivities better ~ Christmas is one day, NOT 6!
3. Plan a boxing day the Saturday following Thanksgiving AND purge better throughout the year.
4. Solidify budget & routines by next year to make for less chaos.

**madhen** · 12-25-2009, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by MrsClaus

Christmas 2009

#4 Cinnamon rolls for breakfast are ok. Adding pecan pie and a soda is sugar overload.

This cracked me up.

**mauimagic** · 12-25-2009, 09:56 PM

Great list and hit the hearts of many I am sure!! Although I have had a Christmas notebook for years - this year I have a Christmas planning notebook that I'm already using for planning and organization!!

**suebeehoney** · 12-25-2009, 10:05 PM

Lessons learned from Christmas 2009 for us...

1. The LIST. It is a MUST. Make it, review it, and stick to it.

2. Never trust the ex not to buy something that I have already purchased for the child that lives with him. Even if I TOLD him I bought it, or planned to.

3. Ditto on the eating thing. Ugh! Too much sugar, too much rich food. My body is rebelling in a major way tonight!

**Lady_V** · 12-25-2009, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by suebeehoney

2. Never trust the ex not to buy something

Change that to "Santa" and that was us this year... and HE had her this morning... so, it was OLD NEWS by the time she came home to open the SAME THING here... I must have told the ex 5 times that I bought it... it was the ONLY thing she asked Santa for!!!

**tervsforme** · 12-25-2009, 10:32 PM

My biggest lesson learned this year is if I'm going to make something I need to be done by November 1st and not be sewing on buttons at 10:30 p.m. on Christmas eve!

**frugalwarrior2** · 12-25-2009, 10:41 PM

-Don't tell your DH secrets because God love him he can't keep one
-keep your gift list in a notebook small enough to keep in your purse
-Let other people do more,you deserve a break too.

**suebeehoney** · 12-26-2009, 03:49 PM

Lady V said:

Change that to "Santa" and that was us this year... and HE had her this morning... so, it was OLD NEWS by the time she came home to open the SAME THING here... I must have told the ex 5 times that I bought it... it was the ONLY thing she asked Santa for!!!

Oy! I identify with that one, Lady V. This year it was a video game that DS11 asked me for at the last minute. I told him I wasn't sure I could do it for Christmas, but his birthday is almost exactly a month AFTER Christmas, so I could get it for him then. I then told the ex NOT to buy it for him, because I was getting it for his birthday if I couldn't get it in time for Christmas. He agreed. What did he do? Went right out and bought the darn thing, or maybe he already had it and didn't remember...but still, now I am stuck with another copy of the same game. Guess it's going on Ebay.

Had the same thing with DD21, except SHE was the problem, not her dad! When she was about 10, she wanted an EZ Bake Oven in the worst way. I told her Santa would bring her one if she asked (I had purchased one and had it hidden already). So what does she do? She asks me for one AND her dad...and when my mom asked her what she had asked Santa for, she replied "an EZ Bake Oven". My mom said, "well, will you still be happy with your other gifts if you don't get it?" To which DD21 replied smartly, "Oh, I'll GET it...I told Mom, Dad, AND Santa that I wanted one - so SOMEONE is gonna get it for me!".

Smart little stinker. She got 2 of them. Played with them a month and then they sat in a closet.